Edith Wharton’s novel The House of Mirth (1905) creates an issue with women’s use of obscene vices in public. Lily Bart, Edith Wharton’s main protagonist a beautiful, young socialite, is searching to procure a wealthy husband to gain her spot in the social elite. Lily, who was raised in a wealthy environment as a child, has high standards for her potential targets. Lily demonstrates anti-Semitism as she continuously denies Simon Rosedale, a Jewish, social climber is After reading The House of Mirth and observing the historical social structure and setting, one can conclude that Edith Wharton made Lily Bart an unmarriageable woman to all of her potential high-class husbands due to the undesirable nature of Lily’s vices. During the
